Average Minimum Research Articles

Evaluating the performance of spectral indices and meteorological variables as indicators of live fuel moisture content in Mediterranean shrublands

This article presents a methodology to estimate the live fuel moisture content (LFMC), a critical factor in the spread of forest fires, through machine learning tools. Random forest models were trained using field LFMC samples collected bi-weekly for 18 consecutive months in 43 shrubland plots in the Valencian region, a Mediterranean zone in eastern Spain. LFMC predictions were obtained for the weighted average of LFMC values, calculated using the Fraction of Canopy Cover (FCC) of dominant species as weights. Furthermore, a specific model was defined for predicting LFMC for the Rosmarinus officinalis species. A Forward Feature Selection (FFS) with a Leave-Location-Out Cross Validation (LLOCV) method was used to select predictors extracted from a spatiotemporal data set, which includes different spectral indices obtained from Sentinel-2 imagery and meteorological variables obtained from measurements at weather stations, along with other seasonal, geographical or topographic variables. Model predictions were validated with a LLOCV procedure, and also using independent field measurements of LFMC in another period with changes in the precipitation regime and average temperatures. Variables selected by FFS for the two LFMC models were: the cumulative precipitation in the previous 60 days (p60), the average of the daily mean temperature in the previous 60 days (t60), together with the Y-UTM coordinate and the sine and cosine of the day of the year. LFMC predictions for the weighted average of LFMC values also introduced the Transformed Chlorophyll Absorption Ratio Index (TCARI), resulting in an R2 of 68.1 %. However, LFMC for the Rosmarinus officinalis species used the ratio between TCARI and the Optimized Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (OSAVI), in addition to the average daily minimum relative humidity in the 15 days prior to the date considered (R2 = 74.9 %). LFMC time series analysis showed that the general trend of LFMC measures is satisfactorily captured by the predictions. Spatial and temporal variations in LFMC were analyzed throughout thematic maps in the studied area during the wildfire season.

A multifaceted graph-wise network analysis of sector-based financial instruments’ price-based discrepancies with diverse statistical interdependencies

We explore discrepancies in financial networks, focusing on sector-based exchange-traded funds, through an in-depth analysis using statistical measures to validate interdependencies. By adopting methodologies such as the Minimum Spanning Tree, Average Linkage Minimum Spanning Tree, p-value-based networks, and Planar Maximally Filtered Graph, we investigate price-based discrepancies to uncover underlying network structures within financial data. Our key contribution is showing how employing a variety of measures and network analyses can offer diverse insights into financial markets. This approach enhances our understanding of market dynamics and provides a comprehensive framework for examining the intricate web of relationships that underpin the financial market.

INNV-11. DELIVERY OF TTFIELDS TO THE INFRATENTORIAL BRAIN USING HFE ARRAYS

Abstract INTRODUCTION Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) therapy is a noninvasive, locoregional treatment comprising alternating electric fields delivered to the tumor via two pairs of skin-placed transducer arrays. TTFields physically disrupt cancer cell viability through a multimodal mechanism that includes antimitotic and antitumor immune effects. TTFields therapy is FDA-approved for glioblastoma (GBM) and CE marked for WHO grade 4 glioma. While clinically approved array layouts for GBM target supratentorial tumors, TTFields distribution depends on the arrays’ locations and dedicated layouts are needed to target infratentorial tumors. To increase patient comfort, Novocure developed HFE arrays that are thinner and lighter than existing INE arrays. Here, we evaluate innovative HFE array layouts for TTFields delivery to infratentorial tumors at therapeutic intensities (~1 V/cm). METHODS TTFields delivery was simulated using Sim4Life v6.2 in a male computational model. 32 layouts of HFE arrays were placed on the model’s scalp, neck, and scapulae, with one placed at a standard cerebral location. Local Average Field Intensity (LAFI) and Local Minimum Power Density (LMiPD) were calculated in the cerebrum, cerebellum and brainstem. RESULTS Standard cerebral layout provided LAFI of 2.47 V/cm to the cerebrum, while providing 1.50 and 1.10 V/cm to the cerebellum and brainstem, respectively (LMiPD 2.22, 1.34 and 0.64 mW/cm3). Layouts comprising arrays on the scapulae (right and left) paired in cross configuration with arrays on either the temples or forehead, provided LAFI of 1.87-2.17 V/cm (LMiPD 1.05-2.20 mW/cm3) to the cerebrum, while providing 1.64-2.13 V/cm (LMiPD 1.77-2.26 mW/cm3) to the cerebellum and 1.74-1.89 V/cm (LMiPD 2.28-2.89 mW/cm3) to the brainstem. CONCLUSION Lower array placement provides higher levels of field intensity in the cerebellum and brainstem versus standard cerebral layout, while still providing adequate field intensity to the cerebrum. This simulation-based study suggests feasibility of delivering therapeutic TTFields intensities to infratentorial tumors using dedicated HFE array layouts.

Projecting future minimum mortality temperature in China

Minimum mortality temperature (MMT) increases with global warming due to climate adaptation, which is crucial for the precise assessment of mortality burden attributed to climate change. Nevertheless, forecasting future MMT poses a challenge given the unavailability of future mortality data. Here, we attempted to develop a novel approach to project future MMT. First, we estimated the MMT of 334 locations in China using a distributed lag nonlinear model. Then, meta regression models were applied to investigate the associations between MMT and several temperature variables(Most Frequent Temperature(MFT), average daily mean temperature, average daily minimum temperature, average daily maximum temperature and percentiles of temperature from 1st to 100th). A generalized linear regression model was employed to investigate whether significant differences existed in the relationships between MMT and temperature from the 1st to the 100th percentile. Finally, an optional indicator of MMT for projecting future values was identified. Our results indicated that temperatures in the 85th to 89th percentiles were closely associated with MMT, with the 88th percentile temperature serving as the most effective indicator, as confirmed by meta-regression models. Using the 88th percentile of temperature as alternative indicator of MMT, compared with the period of 2006-2015, the projected MMT in most districts and counties in China tended to rise under three representative concentration pathways (RCPs) in the 2030s (2030-2039), 2060s (2060-2069), and 2090s (2090-2099). Our findings provide some insight to project future MMT for assessing mortality burden related to temperature change driven by global warming.

Performance of bread wheat advanced lines under late sowing and hydric stress during the crop season 2020-2021

Thirty four advanced bread wheat lines and cultivar Borlaug 100 were sown on January 15 and 30, 2021, at the Norman E. Borlaug Experimental Station, in the Yaqui Valley, Sonora, México. Plots consisted of 1 bed 2 m long with two rows and 0.80 m apart with two replications, and a seed density of 100 kg ha-1 with two complementary irrigations. Average daily temperature (°C), maximum, minimum, relative humidity, rainfall, heat and cold units were recorded from January 1 to May 15, 2021. The average days for heading of the group was 69 for the first sowing date and 66 for the second one, while days for physiological maturity were 99 and 90, respectively. The average plant height of the group for the first date was 97.5 cm and 94 for the second one; the sister line SOKOLL/5/W15.92/4/PASTOR//HXL7573/2*BAU/3/ WBLL1/6/SOKOLL/3/PASTOR//HXL7573/2*BAU (PTSS12SHB00020T-0TOPB-099Y-099B-25Y-020Y-0B) consistently reached the maximum height with 107.5 and 110 cm in each date, respectively. The average grain yield per plot was 294 g; line BAJ #1*2/4/BETTY/3/CHEN/AE.SQ//2*OPATA showed the highest yield with 345.4 g which was above 4.3 t ha-1, followed by SOKOLL/3/PASTOR//HXL7573/2*BAU/4/ASTREB/5/PIHA//WORRAKATTA/2*PASTOR /3/PRL/2*PASTOR, also above 4.3 t ha-1. The average hourly temperature was 18.4 °C with a maximum of 40.8 °C and a minimum of 3.9 °C, and the number of heat and cold units was 203 and 393, respectively.

Understanding Ultrasound Power Doppler Synovitis at Clinically Quiescent Joints and Thermographic Joint Inflammation Assessment in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Background/Objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory arthritis. We aim to study subclinical PD synovitis and thermographic joint inflammation assessment in patients with RA. Methods: We compared (1) PD synovitis at clinically quiescent (non-swollen; non-tender) joints based on patients' disease activity and (2) thermography (hands/wrists) outcomes based on PD joint inflammation findings and patient's disease activity. Results: Among eighty RA patients (mean (SD) age 57.0 (12.6) years; 61 of whom (76.3%) were female), the wrists (62.7%), second metacarpophalangeal joints (MCPJs) (37.0%), third MCPJs (33.8%), fourth MCPJs (24.8%), and fifth MCPJs (20.9%) were the five joint sites most frequently displaying subclinical PD synovitis; with no statistically significance differences (p > 0.05) between patients with 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28) < 3.2 versus those with DAS28 ≥ 3.2. At these five joint sites bilaterally, (1) the total maximum (Total Tmax), total average (Total Tavg), and total minimum (Total Tmin) temperatures were significantly greater (p < 0.05) for Total PD (TPD) score >1 versus TPD score ≤ 1, while their area under the ROC curve (AUC) values in identifying TPD score >1 ranged from 0.789 to 0.810, and (2) Total Tmax, Total Tavg, Total Tmin, and TPD score were significantly greater (p < 0.05) for patients with DAS28 ≥ 3.2 versus those with DAS28 < 3.2. Conclusions: Our results would serve as useful background data in studies on RA monitoring strategies detecting subclinical PD synovitis. Thermographic temperatures were greater in patients with greater disease activity and can help discriminate ultrasound PD joint inflammation severity.

Analyzing the Spatiotemporal Changes in Climatic Extremes in Cold and Mountainous Environment: Insights from the Himalayan Mountains of Pakistan

This study assessed the past changes in extreme precipitation and temperature events across the Himalayan Mountains of Pakistan. This cold and mountainous environmental region has witnessed a significant increase in climate-related disasters over the past few decades. Spatiotemporal changes in extreme temperature and precipitation events were analyzed using 24 indices developed by the Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices (ETCCDI). For this study, in situ data of 16 national meteorological stations were obtained from the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) for the past three decades (1991–2020). The significance of the trends was assessed using the modified Mann–Kendall (MMK) test, and the Theil–Sen (TS) slope estimator was used to estimate the slope of the trend. The results showed that there has been a consistent decline in the total precipitation amount across the Himalayan Mountains of Pakistan. The trend exhibited a decrease in the annual average precipitation at a rate of −6.56 mm/year. Simultaneously, there was an increasing trend in the annual average minimum and maximum temperatures at rates of 0.02 °C/year and 0.07 °C/year, respectively. The frequencies of consecutive wet days (CWDs) and maximum 5-day precipitation (RX5day) have decreased significantly, with decreasing rates of −0.40 days/year and −1.18 mm/year, respectively. The amount of precipitation during very wet days (R95p) and extremely wet days was decreased by −19.20 and −13.60 mm/decade, respectively. The warm spell duration (WSDI) and the frequency of warm days (TX90p) across the Himalayan Range both increased by 1.5 and 1.4 days/decade. The number of cold days (TX10p) and cold nights (TN10p) decreased by 2.9 and 3.4 days/decade. The average temperature of the hottest nights (TXn) and the diurnal temperature range (DTR) were increased by 0.10 and 0.30 °C/decade. The results indicated an increasing tendency of dry and warm weather in the Himalayan region of Pakistan, which could have adverse consequences for water resources, agriculture, and disaster management in the country. Therefore, it is essential to prioritize the implementation of localized adaptation techniques in order to enhance sustainable climate resilience and effectively address the emerging climate challenges faced by these mountainous regions.

Multi-scale model for evaluating stress fluctuation in shale gas reservoirs considering geomechanical heterogeneity

In this article, a numerical model considering multi-scale flow and heterogeneity of shale reservoirs is developed to analyze the spatiotemporal evolution of the stress field in shale gas production. After considering the geomechanical heterogeneity, the variation in the local rock mechanical parameters of the reservoir, and the increase in the effective stress of the reservoir will cause local stress fluctuations. In the hydraulic fracture control area, the average stress fluctuation coefficient is higher, indicating a stronger “stress heterogeneity.” When the homogeneity increases from 5 to 100, the fluctuation range of the minimum horizontal principal stress increases by 28.89 MPa, and the fluctuation range of the principal stress difference increases by 7.35 MPa. The presence of natural fractures can significantly impact the coupled hydraulic-mechanical processes of the reservoir, increasing the number of high-speed permeation channels penetrating the system. The greater the density and permeability, the smaller the minimum horizontal principal stress and the larger the principal stress difference. The angle of natural fractures directly influences the direction of stress drop, with an average minimum horizontal principal stress occurring when the angle of natural fractures is at 60°/120°.

Seasonal changes in the total mercury in small mammals in forest ecosystems near Cherepovets town, Vologda region

Mercury is one of the most dangerous environmental pollutants due to its high toxicity to animals and humans. The aim of the study was to determine the presence or absence of seasonal changes in the mercury level in small mammals in forest ecosystems near the Cherepovets town. The fur, organs and tissues of the common shrew (Sorex araneus Linnaeus, 1758) and Ural field mouse (Apodemus uralensis Pallas, 1811) were examinied during September 2020–August 2021. The content of total mercury (THg) in dried samples (n = 319) was determined on a PA-915+ mercury analyzer with a PYRO console by cold vapor atomic absorption. The content of THg in the Ural field mouse varies from &lt;0.001 (sensitivity limit of the device) in the kidneys, spleen, brain, muscles, and liver up to 0.560 mg/kg dry weight in the spleen; the average maximum THg value was found in the spleen (0.179±0.072 mg/kg) and the minimum was in the muscles (0.023±0.011 mg/kg). The content of THg in the common shrew varies from &lt;0.001 (sensitivity limit of the device) in the brain up to 4.570 mg/kg dry weight in the fur, the average maximum THg value was found in the fur (0.754±0.152 mg/kg), and the average minimum was in the liver (0.112±0.013 mg/kg). It was established that the level of THg in common shrews was higher in winter than in summer, statistically significant differences were found for the fur, muscles, and liver (p = 0.008, 0.001, 0.033, respectively, at p &lt; 0.05). An interspecies comparison showed differences in seasonal changes in the THg content, namely: in autumn it was higher in the common shrew than in the Ural field mouse; statistically significant differences were found for the fur, kidneys, and muscles (p = 0.005, 0.046, 0.001, respectively, at p &lt; 0.05).

Experimental and numerical study on the effect of friction between crack faces on fracture parameters of hot mix asphalt concrete

This article investigates the effect of friction between crack faces in ASCB (asymmetric semi-circular bend) specimen on fracture parameters of hot mix asphalt concrete. To achieve this, fracture tests were conducted on ASCB specimens containing cracks with different angles (0, 10, 20, 30, and 40°). In addition to the fracture tests, friction tests were also performed by designing a simple fixture. Subsequently, finite element analyses were carried out, and friction coefficients between crack faces were calculated based on the results of fracture and friction tests. Furthermore, two fracture criteria, ASED (average minimum strain energy density) and MTS (maximum tangential stress), were examined under two different scenarios: assuming zero-friction and non-zero friction between crack faces to predict fracture load and fracture strength. The fracture tests showed that with an increase in the crack angle, the fracture load initially decreased up to the crack angle of 20°, and then increased. Furthermore, the friction tests revealed that an increase in the normal load led to an increase in the friction coefficient. As per finite element results, the crack face contact occurred at a crack angle of 13.1°. Hence, crack faces in the ASCB specimens with the crack angles of 20, 30, and 40° had friction, which significantly affected the fracture parameters. The results also indicated that the average error values for the MTS and ASED criteria compared to the experimental results were 22.8 % and 18.8 %, respectively, when the friction` between crack faces is ignored, and 12.4 % and 4.0 % for the scenario that the friction effect is taken into account. The ASED criterion demonstrated higher accuracy than MTS criterion. Additionally, the average error value of fracture strength predicted by the ASED criterion with assuming non-zero friction was 4 %, indicating good predictive accuracy for fracture strength.

Average optimal minimum velocity threshold: A practical variable to increase the accuracy of one-repetition maximum estimation during the free-weight back squat

ABSTRACT The prediction of one-repetition maximum (1RM) using the submaximal load–velocity relationship (LVR) is highly relevant for the field of strength and conditioning. The optimal minimum velocity threshold (MVT) was recently proposed to increase the accuracy of 1RM predictions. However, using the average optimal MVT would allow for more practical estimations. LVRs of the free-weight back squat were obtained in 53 participants, throughout 2 sessions. LVRs were obtained using the multi- and two-point methods. Estimations of 1RM were made based on the average actual MVT (1RM velocity) and the average optimal MVT. The accuracy of 1RM predictions was examined using absolute-percent error and Bland-Altman plots. Cross-validation was performed using a leave-one-out approach. The number of selected loads did not affect the slope, y-intercept, optimal MVT or the accuracy of 1RM predictions. Predictions based on the average optimal MVT displayed greater accuracy than those obtained with the average actual MVT (~6% vs. ~8% absolute-percent error, respectively). However, wide 95% limits of agreement (LoA) were found between actual and estimated 1RM using both approaches (~13%1RM). The average optimal MVT offers more accurate 1RM estimations than the average actual MVT. However, errors prove substantial, making it challenging to precisely track minor changes in 1RM.

Fog-assisted de-duplicated data exchange in distributed edge computing networks

The Internet of Things (IoT) generates substantial data through sensors for diverse applications, such as healthcare services. This article addresses the challenge of efficiently utilizing resources in resource-scarce IoT-enabled sensors to enhance data collection, transmission, and storage. Redundant data transmission from sensors covering overlapping areas incurs additional communication and storage costs. Existing schemes, namely Asymmetric Extremum (AE) and Rapid Asymmetric Maximum (RAM), employ fixed and variable-sized windows during chunking. However, these schemes face issues while selecting the index value to decide the variable window size, which may remain zero or very low, resulting in poor deduplication. This article resolves this issue in the proposed Controlled Cut-point Identification Algorithm (CCIA), designed to restrict the variable-sized window to a certain threshold. The index value for deciding the threshold will always be larger than the half size of the fixed window. It helps to find more duplicates, but the upper limit offset is also applied to avoid the unnecessarily large-sized window, which may cause extensive computation costs. The extensive simulations are performed by deploying Windows Communication Foundation services in the Azure cloud. The results demonstrate the superiority of CCIA in various metrics, including chunk number, average chunk size, minimum and maximum chunk number, variable chunking size, and probability of failure for cut point identification. In comparison to its competitors, RAM and AE, CCIA exhibits better performance across key parameters. Specifically, CCIA outperforms in total number of chunks (6.81%, 14.17%), average number of chunks (4.39%, 18.45%), and minimum chunk size (153%, 190%). These results highlight the effectiveness of CCIA in optimizing data transmission and storage within IoT systems, showcasing its potential for improved resource utilization and reduced operational costs.

Study on heat transfer performance of cooling channels in proton exchange membrane fuel cells based on topology optimization

Based on topology optimization method, a dual-objective function topology optimization model containing minimum average temperature and minimum flow power dissipation was established in this study. Coupled with the uneven heat generation model of proton exchange membrane fuel cells, the optimal layout scheme under the target operating conditions was adaptively obtained. The effects of volume fraction, objective function weight, and parabolic inlet velocity on the flow channel structure and cooling performance of topological cooling plates were studied. The results indicate that with the increase of volume fraction, the area of fluid region increases, the average temperature and the pressure drop of cooling plate gradually decrease. At the volume fraction of 0.5, the cooling plate has the best cooling performance. The temperature difference and maximum temperature reach the minimum values of 5.45 K and 347.58 K, respectively. When the volume fraction increases from 0.4 to 0.6, the pressure difference decreases by 67.64 %. With the increase of temperature weight coefficient, the area of high-temperature area gradually decreases, and the temperature uniformity is significantly improved. When the inlet velocity of coolant is 0.025 m/s and the temperature weight coefficient is 0.9, the average and maximum temperatures of cooling plate reach the lowest values, which are 343.53 K and 344.51 K, respectively. The maximum temperature of cooling plate under parabolic inlet velocity is of 347.87 K, which is 0.29 K higher than that under uniform inlet velocity. Non-uniform coolant inlet velocity will lead to a decrease in heat transfer capacity of cooling plate and an increase in coolant power consumption.

Performance of bread wheat advanced lines under late sowing and reduced irrigation

Twenty eight advanced wheat lines and cultivar Borlaug 100 were sown on January 15 and 30, 2020, at the Norman E. Borlaug Experimental Station, in the Yaqui Valley, Sonora, México. Plots consisted of 1 bed 2 m long with two rows and 0.80 m apart with two replications, a seed density of 100 kg ha-1 with two complementary irrigations. Average daily temperature (°C), maximum, minimum, relative humidity, rainfall, heat and cold units were recorded from January 1 to May 15, 2020. The average days for heading of the group was 67 for the first sowing date and 64 for the second, while days for physiological maturity were 103 and 95, respectively. The average plant height of the group for the first and second sowing dates was 83 cm; line SOKOLL/3/PASTOR//HXL7573/2*BAU/4/PARUS/ PASTOR/5/PIHA// WORRAKATTA/2*PASTOR/3/PRL/2*PASTOR consistently reached the maximum height with 92.5 and 95 cm in the first and second dates, respectively. The average a thousand grain weight of the group was 53.8 g for the first sowing date and 43.8 for the second; sister line SOKOLL/3/PASTOR//HXL7573/2*BAU/4/ SOKOLL/WBLL1/5/PIHA// WORRAKATTA/2*PASTOR/3/PRL/2*PASTOR (PTSS14Y00057S-0B-099Y-099B-43Y-020Y) showed the highest average weight with 57.07 g. The average grain yield per plot was 340 g; sister line WBLL4//OAX93.24.35/WBLL1 /5/CROC_1/AE.SQUARROSA(205)//BORL95/3/PRL/SARA//TSI/VEE#5/4/FRET2/6/D67.2/PARANA66.270//AE.SQUARROSA(320)/3/CUNNINGHAM/4/VORB (PTSS15Y00024S-099B-099Y-099M-10Y-020Y) showed the highest yield with 420 g which was above 5 t ha-1. The average temperature was 19.09 °C with a maximum of 36.3 °C and a minimum of 1.04 °C, and the number of heat and cold units was 229 and 227, respectively.

A Prospective Study on Perfusion MRI Changes in Intracranial Meningiomas Following Gamma Knife Therapy.

Radiosurgery plays an important role as a treatment modality for intracranial meningiomas. Perfusion MR imaging can be performed by using arterial spin-labeling (ASL) which is a relatively new and advanced technique. To assess the changes in perfusion parameters on ASL perfusion MRI in intracranial meningioma after radiosurgery and correlate with histopathological grade of meningioma. In this Prospective study done at the our institute over a period of 20 months (Jan 2016-Aug 2017), patients with intracranial meningiomas had perfusion MRI with ASL sequence on GE Optima 450W®, 1.5T MRI (GE Medical Systems) prior to GKT and at 6 months after GKT were included in the study. Twenty-seven patients were included in this study. Mean cerebral blood flow (CBF) was higher in angiomatous meningiomas. Though mean values of average CBF, maximum, minimum, and SD derived from the ASL MR perfusion were relatively higher in post GKT group as compared to those obtained in pre-GKT but it was not clinically significant. Mean baseline volume of whole cohort was 5.71 cm3 and decreased significantly post GKT in a follow up of 6 months to 5.59 cm3 (P value 0.0018). On comparing volumes of primary and secondary group, volumes were not found be significantly decreased in primary group (P value = 0.1361), 0.1361), but significantly reduced in secondary group (7.13 vs 7.034 cm3) (P value of = 0.0038). Our preliminary observations support ASL as a sensitive MRI sequence for the evaluation of meningioma perfusion patterns.

Construction of chitosan/alginate aerogels with three-dimensional hierarchical pore network structure via hydrogen bonding dissolution and covalent crosslinking synergistic strategy for thermal management systems

To replace traditional petrochemical-based thermal insulation materials, in this work, the chitosan (CHI)/alginate (ALG) (CA) aerogels with three-dimensional hierarchical pore network structure were constructed by compositing CHI and ALG using a synergistic strategy of hydrogen bonding dissolution and covalent crosslinking. The structure and properties were further regulated by crosslinking the CA aerogels with epichlorohydrin (ECH). The CA aerogels exhibited various forms of covalent crosslinking, hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions, with hydrogen bonding content reaching 79.12 %. The CA aerogels showed an excellent three-dimensional hierarchical pore network structure, with an average pore size minimum of 15.92 nm. The structure regulation of CA aerogels obtained excellent compressive properties, with an increase of stress and strain by 137.61 % and 45.05 %, which can support a heavy object 5000 times its weight. Additionally, CA aerogels demonstrate excellent thermal insulation properties and low thermal conductivity, comparable to commercially available insulation materials. More importantly, CA aerogels have good cyclic insulation stability and thermal properties, and they have a flame retardancy rating of V-0, which shows the stability of insulation properties and excellent safety. CA aerogels provide new ideas for the development of biomass thermal insulation materials and are expected to be candidates for thermal management applications.

ЖАЗЫҚТЫҚ ҚАЗАҚСТАН ӨЗЕНДЕРІ АҒЫНДЫСЫНЫҢ КӨПЖЫЛДЫҚ ТЕРБЕЛІСІНДЕГІ ТҰРАҚСЫЗДЫҚТЫ ЗЕРТТЕУ

The article analyzes meteorological and hydrological data for the Tobyl River basin. As a result of the study, a clear trend was observed in changes in air temperature values in the Tobyl River basin. And it was found that the fluctuation in precipitation values only during the cold period is statistically significant. An assessment of the summer-autumn and winter minimum flow of the Tobyl River basin showed that in the 80s of the last century, directional changes were observed in the flow characteristics. A connection has also been established between seasonal flow in the Tobyl River basin and synoptic conditions of various forms of atmospheric circulation. The relationship between the epochs of atmospheric circulation and the minimum flow of the river basin. The relationship between the epochs of atmospheric circulation and the minimum flow of the Tobyl River basin shows that the epoch E of the circulation form corresponds to a period of years with an average minimum flow below the norm, form C corresponds to minimum flow values exceeding the normal value, and form E + C, where form E predominates correspond to periods of minimum water flow close to normal in years of average water availability, the same picture is observed in the E+W period.

Advanced nutrient monitoring: Cost-effective cerium ion detection with smart device integration

This research is critically important for large-scale poultry farming, where vigilant monitoring is necessary to assess nutrient levels in poultry feed. Detecting cerium in poultry feed through colorimetric techniques is crucial for evaluating nutrient intake, feed quality, animal health, and broader environmental impacts. This study significantly contributes to ongoing research and monitoring efforts, aiding in maintaining an optimal mineral balance and enhancing chicken quality and overall poultry performance. The study utilized Alizarin Red dye (AR), both individually and in combination with Eriochrome Black T (EBT), to identify the presence of cerium ions. Various experimental conditions such as pH, concentration, temperature, and specificity were thoroughly examined. The UV-Vis absorption spectra indicated that the average minimum detectable limit for cerium ions is approximately 5 ppm, with a detection range of 0.2–3 mM. Additionally, a cost-effective paper-based sensor and a portable colorimetric method for detecting cerium ions were innovatively designed. This paper-based sensor ensures precise detection at room temperature, demonstrating high sensitivity and selectivity. The detection system was integrated with smart devices, enabling the swift capture of Red, Green, and Blue (RGB) values for practical real-time applications. This integration allows for rapid on-site identification of cerium ions. The introduction of this affordable, accurate, and portable colorimetric method for monitoring cerium ions represents a promising advancement in developing accessible tools within this field.

Trend Analysis of Climatic Variables in the Cross River Basin, Nigeria

There have been several incidences of flood recently, which are believed to be aggravated by increased climatic variables as a result of perceived changes in climatic conditions (due to climate change) in the Cross River Basin. The basin is the most extensively developed and used river basin in the management of the water resources of the Cross River and Akwa Ibom States in Nigeria. In this paper, 30 years (from 1992 to 2021) of hydro-meteorological data (annual average rainfall, maximum and minimum temperatures, hu midity, duration of sunlight (sunshine hours), evaporation, wind speed, soil temperature, cloud cover, solar radiation, and atmospheric pressure) from four stations in the Cross River Basin were obtained from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Abuja and subjected to trend detection analysis using the Mann–Kendall test to determine the trend in climatic parameters. The results indicate that there is a significant upward trend in annual rainfall in Ogoja but a downward trend in Calabar. The evaporation trend is significantly downward in Eket, whereas in Calabar, there is an upward trend in solar radiation. Generally, there is a significant rise in annual maximum temperature across the basin. Serial correlation and segmented regression analyses were performed to measure the impact of fluctuations in monthly and long-term Tahiti and Darwin’s Sea level pressures on the climatic variables at the Cross River Basin catchment. These analyses were necessary to determine the extent of the influence of the El Nino Southern Oscillation climatic cycle. The analyses show no significant association between the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and rainfall or between the ENSO and runoff in the catchment. This implies that the impact of the ENSO on rainfall and runoff in the Cross River Basin catchment is not considerable. The intercepts derived from the segmented regression in Eket and Ogoja show significant positive trends in both areas for rainfall and runoff. The trends in intercepts suggest that there are external factors influencing rainfall and runoff other than ENSO events, thus strengthening the assertion of climate change. Results from this study will facilitate the understanding of the variability in climatic parameters by stakeholders in the basin, researchers, policymakers, and water resource managers.

Recent changes in climate extremes in Guinea-Bissau

ABSTRACT Guinea-Bissau has experienced the tangible effects of climate change in recent years. An examination of the annual and monthly precipitation patterns from 1960-2020 indicates an overall decreasing trend in climatological series. In contrast, the monthly average maximum and minimum temperatures exhibit significant increasing trends during the same period. Analysing daily rainfall and maximum and minimum temperature leads us to conclude that rainfall and temperature patterns have evolved in different ways. The non-parametric Mann–Kendall test was used to assess trends in climate indices, and Sen’s slope estimator was used to detect the magnitude of trends. Despite the significant decrease in wet days, there has been an upward trend in rainfall over the 1981-2020 climatological series. Days with maximum temperatures of at least 30 and 35ºC have increased in all seasons with a very significant upward trend for 30ºC. On the other hand, absolute annual maximum temperatures have tended to decrease in Bolama and Bafatá by -0.25 and -0.17ºC per decade respectively. There has also been a decrease of 0.30ºC and 0.39ºC per decade in the minimum temperatures in Bolama and Bafata, i.e. the nights have been getting cooler, which somewhat contradicts the global trends generally reported for this same parameter.